Our pun-tastic election bake sale guide
One of the very best things about our Australian Democracy has to be the wonderful festive vibe at so many of the polling places. Most school P&C committees use the election as a fundraising opportunity, so once you make it past the gauntlet of volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards, you can usually snag yourself a simple ‘democracy sausage’ at the very least!
If you’re lucky, your local school might also host a full-scale bake sale, paired with busking and musical accompaniment from the school band.
Many parents will probably be roped into manning the BBQ, or at the very least, providing the baked goods for the cake stall (aka bake sale).
Looking for ideas for what to bake (or buy)?
We’ve rounded up the best, punniest, and most parent-friendly bake sale ideas with recipes, shortcuts, and plenty of laughs to make your school stall the real winner on the day. Not a single ‘stale’ idea to be found!
Why election day bake sales matter
Federal Elections only roll around every 3 years, so P&C committees need to make use of the captive audience to generate additional funds for exciting school initiatives.
It’s also a top-notch way to engage the local community. Aside from your sausage sizzle, a school bake stall is the heart of any election day polling booth and gives everyone a sweet reward after casting their vote. Plus, a clever name and a bit of political wordplay can turn even the simplest treat into a must-have snack.
We’ve had a go at pulling together some funny (and punny) election-ish suggestions for things you can bake (or buy and re-package if you’re stuck for time or ‘shits to give’) for your school bake sale.
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Special leader-themed treats
Anthony’s Alban-easy chocolate cake
Straight-forward, dependable, and a classic crowd-pleaser – just like the PM himself.
Bake a foolproof chocolate cake and brand it with a big smile as “Anthony’s Alban-easy Chocolate Cake”.
Recipe: One Bowl Chocolate Cake – Allrecipes
Quick tip: Bake it as a slab cake for easy slicing and serving.
Peter Dutton’s choc-button bikkies
Firm, serious, but with a few colourful surprises inside.
Chunky choc chip cookies studded with chocolate buttons (Smarties, M&MS) are the perfect Dutton-inspired treat.
Recipe: Smarties Cookies – Bake Play Smile
Bonus tip: Use mostly dark chocolate buttons with a few bright colours sprinkled in!
More bake stall ideas full of political pun power
Jacqui Lamb-ingtons
Tough, sweet, and classic. This senator might be based in Tassie, but the pun was too good to miss.
Rebrand your lamingtons as “Jacqui Lambingtons” to honour a true Aussie battler.
Recipe: Classic Lamingtons – Recipe Tin Eats
Shortcut: Pick up a pack of lamington fingers and dust with extra coconut!
Preferential pies
Rank your favourites in order, then eat them all anyway.
Offer a spread of mini pies or tarts in different flavours like apple, pear or mince, and encourage voters to “preferentially” select their top picks.
Recipe: Individual Apple Pies – Taste
Shortcut: Your local bakery will usually have mini pies ready to go.
Democracy doughnuts
This is a great one if you’re time-poor and don’t have time to bake. Just grab some doughnuts from the supermarket. Stack trays of cinnamon, iced or jam-filled doughnuts for that ultimate election treat.
Recipe: Simple Baked Spelt and Cinnamon Doughnuts – One Handed Cooks
Shortcut: Grab a six-pack from Coles or Woolies and add a cheeky label.
Electoral roll rolls
Rolling up to cast your vote has never been sweeter… or maybe even savoury?
Cook up some mini Swiss rolls or jam rolls for easy, no-mess bake stall snacking, or go for a savoury option like mini sausage rolls.
Recipe: Jam Rolls – Taste
Shortcut: Grab a big chocolate or jam roll from Coles or Woolies, slice it up to look more ‘homemade’, and add a cheeky label.
Hung parliament pavlovas
Precariously topped with fruit… will they stand strong or collapse?
Mini pavlovas piled high with whipped cream and berries are a perfect metaphor for unstable alliances. If you’re worried about refrigerating the cream, perhaps opt for a mock-cream option or provide just the meringue nests for later assembly. A DIY hung parliament!
Recipe: Mini Pavlovas – Recipe Tin Eats
Shortcut: Pre-made meringue nests + whipped cream and chopped fruit = quick win.
Ballot box brownies or Bob brownies
Rich, gooey brownies presented in little “ballot boxes” for full democratic effect make for a hilarious and delicious bake sale win.
Or if you’re feeling a little left-leaning, make your brownies a tribute to the legendary former Greens leader, Bob Brown.
Brownies are ALWAYS a bake sale winner.
Recipe: Easy Chocolate Brownies – Recipe Tin Eats
Senate slice
Layered, strong, dependable – the true workhorse of politics.
Choose caramel, hedgehog, or peppermint slice to represent the hard-working Senate.
Recipe: Caramel Slice – Recipe Tin Eats
Clive Palm-iers
Some would argue that these pastries are a little tasteless, just like some of the SMS antics of Clive Palmer’s ‘Trumpet of Patriots’ party. But cover them in sugar and they go down a treat!
Recipe: Palmiers – Simply Recipes
Political balls
Sometimes, making the big decisions requires politicians to have some proverbial ‘balls’. So why not offer up a selection of bliss balls and other delicious goodness?
Try out kid-friendly coconut or protein bliss balls, or these delicious Carrot Cake Balls from One Handed Cooks.
Recipe: Carrot Cake ‘No Bake’ Balls – One Handed Cooks
Rocky road to climate action
While the climate change discussion seems to have taken a back seat this election (amid a cost-of-living crisis), the issue is still super important to parents across Australia who want to save the planet for future generations.
As they say in The Simpsons, “Would somebody please think of the children!?”
So, punch out some delicious Rocky Road and bag it up to sell at your local store as “Rocky Road to Climate Action” to remind hungry voters that it’s important!
Recipe: Rocky Road – Recipe Tin Eats
Bananaby bread
Ah, Barnaby Joyce. While your antics are often questionable, your regular media appearances are as dependable as a good old-fashioned Banana Bread.
Plus, what’s a bake sale without banana bread? Super easy to whip up in the food processor with some of your leftover over-ripe bananas.
Recipe: Banana Bread – Taste
Greens’ earthy muffins
Wholesome, packed with goodness, and planet-friendly.
Zucchini, apple, berry or carrot muffins wrapped in recycled paper cases will win the eco-vote. Or try all organic or wholemeal options.
Recipe: Healthy Chocolate Muffins with Veggies – The Natural Nurture
Cupcakes to suit your political tastes
Swinging seat sweets
Not quite red, not quite blue – perfect for undecided voters.
Bake cupcakes and ice them in a mix of colours to symbolise the swinging seats across Australia.
Recipe: Basic Cupcakes – Taste
Teal triumph cupcakes
Fresh, independent, and a little bit disruptive.
Celebrate the rise of the Teals with simple cupcakes topped with teal icing, sprinkles, or cupcake papers.
Recipe: Vanilla Cupcakes – Taste
Democracy cupcakes (party colours edition)
Pick your party – and your cupcake. Simply customise cupcakes in a bunch of different political party colours. Then let the people cast their vote not only at the ballot box, but also at the cake stand!
- Red for Labor
- Blue for Liberal
- Green for the Greens
- Teal for community independents
(Orange and yellow cupcakes omitted due to the author’s personal taste).
Final bake sale tips
- Signage is everything: Even store-bought treats can shine with a clever label. Most schools will request a list of ingredients and possible allergens, so leave space for that.
- Make it easy to grab: Single-serve slices, muffins and pies sell fastest. But whole cakes and loaves can fetch higher prices for your P&C.
- Use colour cleverly: Party-coloured cupcakes or bright coloured labels and smarties help grab attention!
And lastly, don’t forget to get out and vote this Saturday and buy your own democracy sausage and baked goods!
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